It’s a warm evening in a packed Coface Arena in Mainz, and Jogi Löw’s side are all set for their final warmup match against Armenia. A lot of the big names are back in the starting lineup, and with goalkeeper
A game of two halves
“They’re Just Like Portugal”: Keeping up with the Mkhitaryans
Today sees Germany’s final warm-up match before they depart for Brazil, and as the tournament draws ever nearer everyone will be looking for a decent farewell from Jogi’s Jungs against Armenia in Mainz. While the game should not be particularly
Plucked from the mind of the Maharishi Jogi…
OK, over this last couple of years I have become increasingly disappointed with Jogi Löw, who these days is more like the “Maharishi Jogi” – somewhat smarter than the average bear. Or so some would think. From bizarre squad selections
The Classes of 1990 and 2014: A Comparison
Much has been said about the current crop of German players, who have been described by a number of pundits and commentators as the Nationalmannschaft’s “golden generation”. There is certainly an abundance of rich talent in Joachim Löw’s squad that
Germany v Cameroon: Match Analysis and Player Ratings
After a successful ten-day training camp in the South Tyrol, the squad of twenty-six players would head to Mönchengladbach via Düsseldorf for their penultimate pre-tournament friendly against fellow finalists Cameroon – the final match before the announcement of the final
More questions, no answers
It’s a pleasant afternoon in a packed Borussia-Park, and the crowd are in good voice as the two teams make their way out of the tunnel. In the absence of skipper Philipp Lahm and Miroslav Klose, Per Mertesacker takes the
One Cap Wonders No. 9: Dietmar Beiersdorfer
As we approach this summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil and reflect on the Nationalmannschaft’s last meeting with Poland in Hamburg – which would see a skeleton C-Elf take to the field – we stay in the Hansastadt for the
Germany v Poland: Match Analysis and Player Ratings
Ostensibly billed as a World Cup warmup, what might have been an interesting and testing fixture for the Nationalmannschaft at Hamburg’s Imtech-Arena would be defined by the long list of absentees. With some clubs unable or unwilling to release players
A Cure for Insomnia at the Imtech
Earlier today I described the German side for this evenings meeting with Poland as a C-Elf, and it appears that Kicker Online agrees, calling tonight’s lineup a Dritte Anzug. In my last pre-match post I would name a side with
Germany C v Poland B
With a few hours to go until the friendly in Hamburg between Germany and Poland, here’s my projected line-up for what is effectively a C-Mannschaft. With the experienced Lars Bender now injured, the now-reduced squad of seventeen includes only ten
The Skeleton Squad
There is just over a month until the World Cup begins, and Germany have three warmup matches between now and their opening tournament fixture against Portugal in Salvador’s Arena Fonte Nova on 16th June. Having named his preliminary squad of
The Top Thirty
With just over a month until the start of the World Cup finals in Brazil this summer and after much media chit-chat and speculation, Nationaltrainer Joachim Löw has finally named his preliminary squad of thirty players for the tournament –